Ugh, that should say *threads* in the post above, too late to edit.
As for what has changed, I’ve been gone roughly 3.5 years myself, and since deciding to get back in the game a little more than a week ago, have done a shitload of searching and reading on this site (hours and hours). Unfortunately, can’t say I’ve noticed the emergence of any one thing in particular. You literally find a little of everything… guys who’ve gained two inches just doing manual exercises and those who’ve gained almost nothing doing them, guys who hang/clamp/pump/ADS who’ve gained and swear by either (or a combination thereof) and guys who use these devices and have injured themselves and/or not gained. You have guys that incorporate more rest days than others who’ve seen great gains, and others who PE almost every day and see that working best for them. Conversely, you’ll find those that incorporate plenty of rest and don’t gain, and the everyday PE guys that haven’t gained.
It’s both fascinating and frustrating at the same time. We’re all humans, so one would think there would be commonalities in the way we function that would lead to some symmetry as far as successful routines, but it seems we truly are all different. Your best bet is to search/read a ton, don’t get lazy when you have a question, stay consistent, and be patient. In time, your methods will naturally evolve (fueled by your motivation and desire to get bigger) into something that is unique/specific to you and works best for you.